Balanced swell for musical instruments.



N0. 888,307. PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

Y s. w. CLARK.

BALANCED SWELL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

AYPLIOAYI'ION TILED 1111119, 1907.

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lNVENTOf? ATTORNEYS W/TNESSES S. W. CLARK. BALANCED SWELL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 19, 1907.

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No. 888,307. PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

s. W. CLARK. BALANCED SWELL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1907.

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p 'j V 9 7 73 NVE/VTOH WITNESSES I 5% Mu I fififldflflk A TTORNE rs No. 888,307. PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

s. w. CLARK. BALANCED SWELL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19,1907.

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WITNESSES l vvz ATTORNE YS I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SARAH WOOD CLARK,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BALANCED SWELL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SARAH Woon CLARK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Balanced Swell for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in musical instruments, and relates more particularly to means for varying the volume of the tone of a piano or similar instrument; the object being to provide a simple means whereby a performer on the instrument may by foot pressure vary the position of a movable part of the casing, as, for instance, a lid, to open or close the same, or vary the position of a sound deflecting board whereby the sound may be muffled or permitted to freely escape toward or away from the audience.

A further object of my invention is to provide mechanism for raising or lowering the lid and tilting it in either direction, so that the sound waves will be deflected in the desired direction by the lid.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, all of which will be fully set forth hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a piano casing provided with my improved mechanism; Fig. 2 is a similar section but showing the lid in its raised position Fig. 3 is a sectional detail showing one form of mechanism for cushioning the lid upon its descent Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 1,.but showing a modified form of lid manipulator; Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 1, but showing a further modified form; Fig. 6 is a transverse section illustrating one form of lid-tilting mechanism, said section being taken on the line 99 of Fig. 10 Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary sections similar to Fig. 6, but showing the lid in diflerent positions; Fig. 9 shows the foot-actuated mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, provided with means for lifting the pedal after the latter has been depressed; and Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 19, 1907.

tion taken on the line 1313 of Fig. 6.

Patented May 19, 1908.

Serial No. 353,070.

In the drawings I have illustrated various modified forms of mechanism for raising the lid by foot pressure, each of said forms being illustrated in connection with an upright piano, but it is to be understood that my in vention may be applied equally as well to a square or grand piano. In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, a casing 5 of any suitable character is em loyed, said casing having a movable lid 6 c osing the upper end thereof and hinged at the rear side of the instrument. This lid is preferably fiat upon its upper surface and curved longitudinally and laterally upon the lower surface, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. This form of lid is preferably employed in connection with a piano having the ordinary sounding board 7 and also the curved sounding board 8 disclosed and claimed in my prior patent No. 763,157, granted June 21, 1904. The lid at each end thereof is provided with long curved bars 9 pivotally connected thereto and extending to points adjacent the lower end of the piano. The lower end of each of these bars is pivotally connected to corresponding arms 10 carried by a rock shaft 11 extending the full length of the instrument and connected to mechanism for rocking the shaft. The particular embodiment of mechanism illustrated in this form, as well as in the form illustrated in Fig. 5, comprises an arm 12 extending rearwardly therefrom and connected by means of a link 13 to the inner extended end 1410f a pedal 15. By pressing 'down-. ward upon the pedal, the inner end 14 thereof is raised and the rock shaft 1 1 rotated. This movement of the shaft causes the arms 10 to rise and causes the bars 9 to move longitudi-- nally to raise the lid upon its hinges. For facilitating this movement of the lid, I provide a counterbalancing weight 16 mounted between guides 17 and connected by a cord 18 extending over pulleys 19 and 20 to the end of an arm 21 carried by the rock shaft. The weight 16 is of such a size that the lid 6 is substantially counterbalanced and only a very slight pressure upon the pedal 15 is required in order to raise the lid, while upon relieving the pressure of the foot, the lid will automatically but slowly descend to the position indicated in Fig. 1.

To prevent the lid from coming too violently in contact with the upper edge of the casing, I may provide any sultable mechanism for cushioning it, as, for instance, springs 22 secured to the inner sides of the end walls of the casing, so as to contact with the sides of the bars 9 when the latter have moved nearly to their limiting position. In Fig. 3, a modified form of cushioning device is illustrated, which comprises a buffer 23 carried in a recess in the upper edge of the front side of the casing and movable therein. A spring 24 normally presses this buffer up out of the recess, and as the lid descends it contacts first with the buffer and must compress the spring 24 before it can contact with the front of the casing. It is evident that various other means than those illustrated may be employed for cushioning the descent of the lid.

Instead of connecting the arms 10 directly to the lid 6 by bars 9, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, I may, if desired, connect the lid and arms to separate bars and connect these bars to intermeshing gear wheels, as illustrated in Fig. 4. In this embodiment of my invention, I provide short bars 9 connected to the lid and bars 9 connected to the arms 1.0. The first mentioned arms are pivotally connected to gear wheels 25 mounted on the inner side of the end wall of the casing and intermeshing with gear wheels 26 mounted adjacent thereto and pivotally connected to the bars 9 Upon pressing downward 011 the pedal 15 the arms 9 are raised to cause a rotation of the gear wheel 26, and the motion thus imparted to the gear wheel 25 causes the lid to rise. The relative size of the two gear wheels may be varied at will, so as to open the lid by a minimum or maximum movement of the pedal. The connections of the bars 9 and 9 to these gear wheels may be such that when the lid reaches its limited open position, the end of either the rod 9 or 9 will be upona dead center and the lid held against accidental return movement. Should the lid fail to freely return when the pressure is relieved from the pedal, I may, if desired, provide the pedals with small projections or clips 27, whereby the performer may catch the tip of the sole of his shoe beneath the projection and slightly raise the pedal to start the lid on its downward movement.

It is evident that my improved lid manipulator may be employed in connection with the lid of any ordinary piano instead of in connection with the curved lid illustrated in the forms above described. In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a modified form of lid manipulator and one employed in connection with a piano of ordinary or simple construction. In this form I have indicated a casing 5 having a swinging lid 6 pivotally connected at its ends to links 7'" extending downwardly to pivotal connections with arms 8 on a rock shaft 9 arranged in the upper portion of the casing. Also extending from the said rock shaft is an arm 10 having connection 11. with an arm 12' projecting from a second rock shaft 13 arranged in the lower portion of the casing. Extending forward from the last mentioned rock shaft is an arm 14* having a weight 15" secured thereto and adjustable longitudinally thereof. This weight operates in the same manner as the weight in the forms above described, and operates to counterbalance the lid and permit of easier movement of said lid. A foot pedal 17 extends through an opening in the front of the casing at the bottom and is mounted to swing on a stud 15' attached to the lower rail of the casing. The inner end of the pedal has a link connection 19' with an arm 2O extending from the rock shaft 13 substantially at right angles to the arm 12. The operation of this form is substantially the same as in the form first described, namely, upon pressing the pedal 17 the rock shaft 13 is caused to rotate and raise the bar 11 which in turn rotates the rock shaft 9 and raises the arms 7.

In connection with the various forms of lid-raising mechanism hereinbefore described, I preferably employ means for so supporting the lid that it may be inclined in any desired direction, and provide mechanism for readily controlling this means. In Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, I have illustrated a footoperated mechanism similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 1, inclusive, but instead of connecting the bars 9 directly to the lid 6, I connect them to the lower ends of the vertically movable supporting bars 9 held within guides of any suitable character in the ends of the casing 5. The vertically movable supporting bars 9 are pivotally connected to the lid 6 at the opposite ends there of and intermediate the opposite sides, and

the lid illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, is entirely free from and. unattached to the casing of the piano, save at these two supporting bars. Upon depressing the pedal 15, the lid may be moved in a parallel position to a plane above the piano, as illustrated. in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

In order that the sound produced within the instrument may be deflected either from the front or the rear, I connect to the lid means for varying the inclination thereof. This means may be of various different forms, but in the drawings I have illustrated one embodiment, comprising a bar 28 pivotally connected to the lid at the rear edge thereof and so connected at its lower end, that the performer may raise or lower the rear edge of the lid to vary its inclination. As shown, the lower end of the bar 28 is connected to an arm 29 secured to a short oscillating shaft 30, which latter extends out from the front of the piano below the keyboard and carries a lever 31 in a position to be operated by the knee of the performer. A side movement of the lever 31 rotates the shaft 30 and raises or lowers the end of the arm 29 and bar 28. By raising'the entire lid to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 and then moving the lever 31 to depress the rear of the lid, the volume of soundmay be thrown forward over the head of the performer; while by moving the arm 31 to lift the rear of the lid, the latter may be inclined to the position shown in Fig. 8 and the sound deflected in the o posite direction. Any suitable means may be employed for cushioning the descent of the lid, the form shown comprising a small spring 32 extending a short distance above the top of the casing when the lid is raised.

Instead of employing the projection or clip 27 for raising the pedal after the same has been depressed, I may, if desired, employ the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 9, in which an auxiliary pedal 33 is mounted directly above the pedal 15 and connected by a link 34 to a bell crank lever 35, the inner'end of which may be brought into engagement with the inner extended end 14 of the pedal 15, to depress the latter and cause the lid to return to its original position.

The operation of my im roved device is quite obvious; that is, a pe ormer on the instrument by placin his foot on the pedal and applying suitab e pressure thereto may raise the lid of the instrument to any desired degree to deflect the sound waves from the instrument, and upon relieving the foot pressure the lid will close by gravity, but all arring or noise will be obviated by the cushioning device employed.

It is desirable that the weight should very nearly counterbalance the lid, so that only a slight pressure is required to raise the latter, but this results in a very slow return movement of the lid after it is released. If the performer desires to close the lid more rapidly or in case the lid does not descend upon the removal of the foot from the pedal, pressure is ap lied to the auxiliary edal, whereupon the fid may be instantly c osed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A musical instrument, comprising, in combination, a casing having a movable lid, and foot actuated mechanism for movin said lid, said mechanism including a peda adapted to be depressed to raise the lid, and means adapted to be en aged by the foot of a performer to start the lid in the reverse direction.

2. A musical instrument, comprising, in combination, a casing having a movable sound deflecting board, and foot actuated mechanism for moving said board ,said mechanism including a pedal adapted to be depressed to move the board in one direction and means adapted to be engaged by the lid, said mechanism including a edal adapted to be depressed to move the id in one direction, and means adapted to be en aged by the foot of a performer to start the lid in the reverse direction.

4. A musical instrument, comprising, in

combination, a casing having a movable lid,

and mechanism for moving either one of two opposite edges of said lid out of engagement with the casing.

5. A musical instrument, comprising, in combination, a casing having a movable lid, means for moving said lid in respect to said casing, and independent means for varying the inclination of said lid.

6. A musical instrument, comprising a casing having a movable lid, foot actuated mechanism for raising said lid, and separate means for varying the inclination of said lid.

7. A musical instrument, comprising a casing having a movable sound deflecting board, a counterbalancing weight therefor, foot actuated mechanism for moving said board in one direction, and independent means for varying the inclination of said board.

8. A musical instrument, comprising a casing having a movable lid, means for counterba ancing the weight thereof, foot actuated mechanism for operating the same, and independently operated means for varying the inclination of the lid to bring either one of two opposite edges of said lid out of engagement with said casin 9. A musical instrument, comprising a oasing having a movable lid, a rock shaft extending longitudinally of the casing substantially the entire length thereof, means connecting the opposite ends of said rock shaft to the opposite ends of said lid, foot-actuated mechanism for operating the rock shaft, and a weight operatively connected to said rock shaft and counterbalancing the lid.

- 10. A musical instrument, comprising a casing having a movable lid, a rock shaft extending longitudinally of the casing substantially the entire length thereof, means connecting the opposite ends of said rock shaft to the opposite ends of said lid, foot-actuated mechanism for o crating the rock shaft, a weight 0 erativey connected to said rock shaft an counterbalancing the lid, and a spring for cushioning the lid at the end of t e closing movement.

11. A musical instrument, comprising a casing having a movable lid, a rock shaft extending longitudinally of the casing substantially the entire length thereof, means connecting the opposite ends of said rock shaft to the opposite ends of said lid, foot-actuated mechanism for oFerating the rock shaft, a name to this specification in the presence of vxgeitght ogerativeybcolnnected to Siiii r001:i two subscribing Witnesses. s at an counter a ancin t1e i an mechanism for moving eithe? one of the tWo SARAB WOOD CLARK 5 opposite edges of said lid out of engagement Witnesses:

with the casing. J. MITCHELL CLARK,

In testimony whereof I have signed my WILLIAM MERGARAT. 

